'Ruled by gangsters and madmen': John Cusack slams Trump, Netanyahu over 'Operation Epic Fury'

Actor and activist John Cusack launched a scathing critique of President Donald J. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a series of tweets this week. "We do not belong to a constitutional republic.  We are ruled by gangsters and madmen - Netenyahu Trump - the new tech overlords and oligarchs, power mad ghouls - unthinkable greed - madness insanity," Cusack wrote in a post on X.

Like several other critics of 'Operation Epic Fury', including celebrities and lawmakers, Cusack indicated that the conflict was created as a calculated distraction. "Trump starts a wag the dog war  - to distract from Epstein and to do Netanyahu's bidding  - who's lobbied for this for over 30 years - Had enough yet?" he wrote in another post on X.  The actor's rhetoric reflects a deepening divide within Hollywood.

Comedian Kathy Griffin echoed Cusack's words in a post on Instagram. "Trump response to his name being cited in Epstein Files 30,000 times — Bomb Iran," she wrote. Similarly, Mark Ruffalo criticized the lack of diplomatic foresight, stating in an Instagram thread, "He was sent to make sure we went to war." Since the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, dubbed 'Operation Epic Fury', the Trump administration has come under fire from several celebrities, with many demanding the President's impeachment. "Under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war, as well as to raise and support armies, provide and maintain a navy, and fund and regulate the military. Impeach the SOB," author Stephen King tweeted. 

Conversely, pro-Trump figures in the industry have lauded the military action. "Trump, Rubio, Hegseth. Whoever could have imagined the United States, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel could have joined together to end the worst terrorist regime of the modern era. A stunning diplomatic, military, humanitarian achievement," actor James Woods wrote in a post on X, sharing a picture of Trump with the text: "Greatest President ever." 

Meanwhile, as Operation Epic Fury entered its sixth day, the scale of the military engagement had expanded significantly, with the Pentagon reporting the neutralisation of several high-level Iranian command centers. As per the U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces have reduced Iranian regime drone launches by 73% and ballistic missile launches by 86% over four days. In a social media post, CENTCOM informed that "U.S. forces are expanding strikes deeper into Iranian airspace by the hour." "The Iranian regime's ability to impact U.S. forces and regional partners is rapidly declining, while American combat power continues to build," CENTCOM wrote in a separate post.